Swing link



E. H. PlRON Dec. 31, 1940.

SWING LINK Filed Jan. .9, 1959 9 m m W m m Ti? K a i 5 ,8 M

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES SWING LINK Emil H. Piron, New York, N. Y., assignor to Transit Research Corporation, a corporation of New York Application January 9,

4 Claims.

This invention relatesto swingbolster assemblies composed of the swing bolster, swing links and the means of attachment of the links to a supporting member, andh as for its object to provide a construction of this type in which the swing links constitute the means for transmitting driving and retarding forces between truck axles and a rail vehicle body.

Another object is to provide a swing bolster assembly embodying swing links pivotally supporting a bolster, the swing links being connected to truck frame members in such manner that they always swing along the same arc, or, in other words, the swing links cannot move axially along the truck frame members and, therefore, do not require a transom or equivalent organ.

Another object is to provide a construction of this type in which bearings are provided by hard contacts rolling one on another without friction, without the use of needles or rollers as bearing members, and with the length of the rolling contacts sufiicient to withstand high loads withou deterioration of such surfaces.

Another object is to provide bearings of this type both for the support of the swing links on the truck frame members, and for the support of the bolster on the swing links.

Other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent as reference is had to the accom- 30 panying drawing wherein my invention is illustrated, and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the support of the swing links and bolster;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a swing link, and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

More particularly, 1 and 2 designate side frame members of a rail vehicle truck herein illustrated as tubular. The truck is not shown in detail here because its construction is not essential to illustration of the invention, and may be of any special or conventional type.

Rigidly mounted upon the side frame members I and 2 are bearing blocks 3 of comparatively short radius formed of comparatively hard metal and having convexly curved upper surfaces to present a small area of contact by the concave surfaces of comparatively hard metal wear plates 4 in the upper ends of C shaped links 5. The radius of the plates 4 is substantially greater than that of the blocks 3. In the lower portions of the links 5 are comparatively hard metal wear plates 6 having concave upper surfaces engaged by hard metal bearing blocks 1. The bearing blocks 1 are mounted rigidly upon trunnions 8 1939, Serial No. 249,854 g I (01. -190) on the bolster 9 and have substantially lessradius than the radius of the plates 6. I

As may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the trunnions project laterally of the bolstr- -that is, in a-direction fore and 'aft of the truck with respect thereto and one of the hard metal bearing blocks 1 is mounted on each projecting end of each trunnion. The two blocks 1 on each trunnion are thus spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of the ends of the bolster 9. The sets of bearing blocks 3 and corresponding wear plates 4 are equal in number to-the sets of blocks 1 and plates 6," and are disposed with a block 3 and wear plate 4 vertically above each block 1 and wear plate 6, as viewed from the side of the truck, or as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The distance between the two trunnions 8 is greater than the distance between the truck frame members I, with the result that the two opposed links diverge downwardly, thus improving stability against lateral movement of the bolster.

The brackets 5 are retained against accidental lateral displacement with respect to the truck frame members I and the trunnions 8 by strip members In. Means are provided to preclude relative longitudinal movement of the blocks 3. As illustrated, these means are in the form of flanges or lips I l depending from the wear plates 4 for engagement by the blocks 3. Similar flanges or projections I2 are provided for the blocks 6.

It will be noted that the bearings thus provided are substantially free from friction and wear, and require no special lubricating means. They are superior to conventional needle or roller bearings, for the reason that such bearings require lubrication, and when used in conjunction with elements incapable of complete rotation they require special lubricating means and special attention.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, truck frame members, a bolster having trunnions, and swing links, said frame members and trunnions having hard metal bearing blocks fixed thereon, said bearing blocks having arcuate contact surfaces, said swing links being of C shape, strip members attached to the ends of said links and closing said 6 formation, and contact members in the ends of said swing links placed in contact with said bearing blocks by hooking the ends of the links over the frame members and trunnio-ns respectively and retained thereon by said strips, said contact members having end flanges engaging the ends of said bearing blocks precluding longitudinal relative movement between the bearing blocks and contact members.

2. In combination, truck frame members, a bolster, swing links connected to said frame members in free-swinging engagement therewith and with their free ends extending outwardly of respective ends of the bolster, arcuate contact members on said bolster and projecting therebeneath in such manner that their ends constitute shoulders, the free ends of said links having hook-like portions extending beneath respective ends of the bolster, and contact members of difierent radius than said bearing members, said contact members being supported by respective hook-like portions in contact with said bearing members and having flanges arising from opposite ends thereof and engaging respective shoulders to preclude longitudinal movement between thebolster and said links.

3. In combination, truck frame members, a bolster, swing links pivotally connected to said bolster, arcuate surfaced bearing members secured to said frame members in such manner that the ends thereof constitute shoulders, the upper ends of said swing links extending upwardly alongside the frame members and having hook-like portions extending inwardly over the frame members, contact members fixed on said hook-like portions and resting upon said bearing members, and flanges depending from said contact members and engaging respective shoulders to preclude relative longitudinal movement between the swing links and frame members.

4. In combination, truck frame members, a bolster, swing links at opposite ends of said bolster, arcuate surfaced bearing members secured to said frame members in such manner that the ends thereof constitute shoulders, the upper ends of said swing links extending upwardly alongside the frame members and having hook-like portions extending inwardly over the frame members, contact members fixed on said hook-like portions and resting upon said bearing members, flanges depending from said contact members and engaging respective shoulders to preclude longitudinal movement between the frame members and said links, the lower ends of said swing links extending outwardly of respective ends of the bolster, second arcuate bearing members on said bolster and projecting therebeneath in such manner that their ends constitute abutments, the lower ends of said links having second hook-like portions extending beneath respective ends of the bolster, and second contact members of different radius than said second bearing members, said second contact members being supported by said second hook-like portions in contact with said second bearing members and having flanges arising from opposite ends thereof and engaging respective abutments to preclude longitudinal movement between the bolster and said links.

EMIL H. PIRON. 

